Saxophone



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,109

A. J. JOHNSON SAXOPHONE Filed Dec. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/ II S an IN l/lz'N'IUl? [f e JJO mien Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,109

A. J. JOHNSON SAXOPHONE Filed Dec. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VEA' TOR ,4 TTORNE VS Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED T. JOHNSON, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO YORK BAND IN- STRUMENT COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SAXOPHONE.

Application filed December 23, 1926. Serial No. 156,642.

This invention has to do particularly with octave holes and means of control.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to provide an improved construction of saxophone in which there is a third octave hole, and further, such octave hole is provided with suitable connections for its manipulation and control with the usual octave holes in a saxophone, for the purpose primarily of clarifying the tone of the middle I) of the key of the particular instrument and all notes below said middle D.

Faecond, to provide an improved connection and means for operating three octave holes in a saxophone in proper combination and relation.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. The invention defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of my application in Which:

Fig. 1 is a detail side elevation view from the right hand side of a saxophone embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar detail elevation view from the left hand side, part of the keys and connections being omitted, these being of usual or any desired construction not shown.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the top portion of the body and the neck, show-- ing the location of the three octave holes constituting my improved feature.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on a line corresponding to line 44 of Figs. 2, Z) and 5, showing details of the third octave hole, the pad therefor, and theoperating levers and rockers in that relation.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevation view ,from the front side or leftside of Fig. 1, showing details particularly as to the relation of the third octave hole.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 66 of Figs. 1, 2 and 5, showing details of the connection of the third. octave hole control means.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective viewbf the same parts indicating their relation.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional. view on line 8-8 of Figs. 1 and. 2, showing details of the lower D connections and the train of levers and rockers arms entering into the combination for controlling the third octave hole pad.

The parts will be indicated by their numerals of reference which are the same in all views.

1 is the body. 2 is the neck. 3 is the bell in tl e usual form of saxophone. 4 is the upper octave hole in the said neck, and 5 the pad therefore. 6 is the key and pad connection to said upper octave hole and 7 the key for controlling same. 8 is the rock shaft to which the octave key 7 is connected for actuation. 9 is the stop arm for said shaft 8. 10 is the actuating arm for the rockshaft 8. 11 is the intermediate upper rocksnaIt. 111 18 the arm on said intermediate upper rockshaft. 61 is the ring on the key lever 6 on which arm 111 acts. 12 is the support button for the thumb of the left hand. These parts are all in usual form as they appear on many standard makes of saxophones.

13 is the second or middle octave hole in the usual place on the upper part of the body 1. 14 is the pad for the middle octave hole. 15 is the key lever arm connection therefor and 16 is the rockshaftcarrying the said arm 15. 17 is the stop arm and actuating arm on said shaft 16. 18 is the auxiliary rockshaft to the said middle octave key. 181 is the parallel shaft connected to the auxiliary shaft 18. 182 is the my and its lever to the middle D octave auxiliary shaft 18. 183 is the arm carrying actuating lugs 18 1 and 185, 184 of which coacts with arm 112 to control shaft 11 and 185 reacts with arm 17 to control the middle octave pad. The middle octave hole and pad are in the usual position on the saxophone.

I have indicated in detail the means for actuating the same so the relation to the third octave hole and its controlling means will readily appear and be understood.

19 is the third octave hole and 20 the pad therefor, see Figs. 1, l, 5 and 7. 21 is the arm carrying the said pad. 22 is the rockshaft therefor. 23 is the rocker actuating arm for the said shaft and octave hole pad having lug 231 for its actuation and lug 232 for the control of the pad for the second octave hole for cooperation of the middle octave hole. 24 is the main actuating rockshaft to the said lower octave hole, being in alinement with the rockshaft 16 and sup ported on the same rod.- is the actuating arm on the long shaft 24 which coacts with the projection linger 231 of the rockshaft arm 23 on shaft 22. 25 is the actuating arm for the said rockshaft and the same is actuated by the train of arms and rockshafts 27, 28, 2, 30, and 31 and lever 32 with finger key 33 in co ncction with the lower These parts now having been described, their actuation will be explained.

The upper or first octave hole 4 is controlled by the key 7 and its connections in the usual way by slipping the thumb over the edge of the support button 12. This is controlled in connection with the up- 4 per D.

is unnecessary. They are simply The second octave is controlled by actuation of the key 182 which actuates shaft 18 and opens the second octave hole 13 and by the usual connection closes the upper octave hole 4 through the connections of actuating shaft 8 as indicated. The rockshaft 18 actuated by arm 183 with its lugs 18% and 185 which act upon the rockshafts 11 and 1G in the usual way for such control.

The third octave hole 19 or clarifier for middle D is controlled by depressing key 7 and key 182 and the lower D key 83. The depressing of key 33 actuates shaft 24L which reacts by pintle or arm 25 on lug 231 to raise the pad 20 and open the octave hole 19. Lug 282 upon arm 25 acts upon lug 171, rocks the shaft 16, and opens pad 14 from the second octave hole 13 above, thus permitting free vibration when the middle D and all notes below are being played. This avoids the wolf or dead tones which occur in playing of said middle D and lower notes. Lower D is played in the usual way. It is proper to actuate pad 20 in this way when the middle octave hole 13 is open and it is preferable that it be open. At the same time the upper octave hole in the neck should be closed. This is all accomplished by the mechanism that has been illustrated. I have not attempted to describe all the keys on the saxophone in this behalf because it I illustrated as they appear in the photograph of the instrument in Fig. 1, which photograph has been reproduced in this relation showing the various parts, some of which are not numbered.

The higher D key 34 is illustrated because it is practically opposite the third octave hole. I have shown a third octave hole as he desirable and eliicient means of accomplishing the octave vent, but it is very clear that if the hlgh D key were very slightly depressed, in order to merely vent the body 1 at that point, a similar result would be secured and the wolf notes avoided.

I nave shown a special combination and relation of rockshafts and levers for controlling the said third octave hole in combination with the D keys referred to. t is clear that very special and direct keys might be made use of and located for this purpose without entering into the combination, but, of course, when they are in combination this effect is secured automatically without any conscious attention thereto by the player. Therefore, the particular combination I have shown is of great advantage and is desirable over the simpler construction mentioned, which I have not deemed necessary to illustrate in this behalf.

I desire to define particularly what I mean by the usual octave holes. These are holes comparable to holes 1 and 13 as illustrated in Fig. 3. These, or the equivalents, are in use on all high grade instruments with which I am familiar today. I, of course, do not claim such as my invention. These holes are in use to insure the free and effective vibration of the column of air and to insure clear full tones above middle C. It is the purpose of my invention to add the third octave hole 19 as a clarifier for middle D, and also for the other and further eflects'indicated in the description when its action is combined with the action of the other usual octave holes. By this arrangement and combination I have extended this action and have made the entire instrument effective by adding the third octave hole 19 to the usual octave holes. I believe the effect of the hole at 19 is so comparable with that of the other octave holes at and 13 that it is proper to call the said hole 19 an octave hole. I

By way of explanation, let me state that when a performer starts at the lowest tone on a saxphone and goes upward, he is playing what is known as tubular tones up to and including middle 0. When he goes to middle D and above he begins to use the octave holes and the tones from middle D upward are termed mechanical tones. They are mechanical in this respectt-heir pro duction calls for use of octave holes to produce notes higher than the fundamental tubular tones.

When low D is played, practically all of the tone holes of the instrument are closed. hen middle D is played the same tone holes are closed but the first octave hole is open. lVhen a performer plays middle C practically all of the tone holes are open. In moving to D all tone holes are closed and the first octave hole is opened. In the jump from C to D there is a marked difference in the quality of tone, as the middle C is pro duced with practically all tone holes open.

The tone is responsive, free and clear. W'Vhereas, the next higher note, or D, is produced with the tone holes closed. The tone does not respond, in fact, this tone is very difiicult to produce at all Without changing the embouchure to some extent. The third octave hole, or clarifier, has been created to clarify the middle tone D by means of an opening in the tube at vibrating point of this tone sutlicient to let the air escape, thus releasing the tension on middle D when leaving the tone C.

I desire to claim the invention specifically as illustrated and also broadly, so that the claims will. dominate the particular details and also any sort of means for controlling the pad over the third octave hole, and also to embrace all structures or means of merely venting the body by slightly opening the higher D key 34, all as indicated and pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a saxophone, the combination with the usual construction of octave holes, of a lower octave hole with pad and lever connection for controlling the same.

2. In a saxophone, the combination with the usual construction of two octave openings, of a third octave hole below the others, means for controlling the same whereby the third octave hole can be opened in conjunction with the middle octave hole.

3. In a saxophone, the combination with the usual construction of two octave openings, of a third octave opening, rockshait and lever connections extending down to the lower D key connections, with connections thereto to operate the same when the middle I) is fingered, and connections therefrom for opening the second octave hole and closing the upper one, casting as specified.

4. In a saxophone, the combination with the usual construction of two octave openings, of a third octave opening, rockshaft and lever connections extending down to the lower D key connections, with connections thereto to operate the same when the middle D is fingered, coacting as s-zpeciiied.

5. In a saxophone, the combination with the usual octave holes, of means to vent the body at a lower point to secure vibration and clear tone on middle D and all notes below.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED J. JOHNSON. 

